However, he really doesn't like Chicago (the band, not the city - aside from the Cubs).

And he's pretty open about his loathing of Chris Brown (he even started this), but most people find this to be justified.

Though not talked about that much in his videos, he also really hates the band Nickelback, whom he often uses as a comparison for music he absolutely loathes (such as Chris Brown's verse in Look At Me Now). He explains his hatred of the band in his FAQ (short version: It's not that they suck, it's that they so consistently suck across such a long period of time).

Christmas music - he's sick of most Christmas songs due to how overplayed they are.

Todd also seems to think that people with mental illnesses are acceptable targets. Or at least that mentally ill people make bad music (Train's awful lyrics are the result of the frontman's schizophrenic aphasia, Bruno Mars' dramatic whining is caused by a need for Zoloft, Wyclef Jean's bizarre wailing on "We Are the World" was caused by a lack of psychotropic drugs, etc.)

In regard to the former, it's interesting to see the difference between his review of "Deuces" where he did bring up Chris Brown's crimes, but to illustrate why the particular song (about how his girlfriend is a whiny bitch) is really Too Soon to be sung by Chris Brown. By the time of the "Turn up the music" review...

The artist who does the cards appears in one of Linkara's videos (Mr T #2) claiming that it's actually what he looks like. (And she also obscures her face online, as seen in her cameo in the "Applause" video)

Krin: You guys know Todd doesn't actually have a face, right? The art is accurate! That boy...is a monster.

But Not Too Foreign: Apparently, Todd is a 13-and-57-year-old black, white, beige, chola, Lebanese, Oriental Asian-American girl with blonde hair who looks like Jim Carrey wearing a Danny DeVito mask with a Leno chin... as far as we know.

He even says the "You're black, white, beige, chola descent, you're Lebanese, you're Orient" part of "Born This Way" was written for him.

He said in the commentary for "Like a G6" that he "could be anything! You guys don't know!"

Lampshaded in his crossover review with Film Brain, which he does with the lower part of his face uncovered and in full lighting.

Todd: Okay, look. Just because I have my hood on doesn't mean I'm gonna knife you. God, I'm so sick of the racial profiling!

Appeared a few times on Vampire Reviews, given Elisa lives next to Lindsay. For instance, he was requested how out-of-date Queen of the Damned was in making Lestat a Nu Metal rocker, and was included in Maven's attempt at a Monster Mash.

Compassionate Critic: As the page quote shows, he really does enjoy pop music (it started when the only stations he could get in his car were either Classic Rock or Top 40 "and I didn't want to listen to "More Than a Feeling" ten times a day"), but feels the need to criticize the absolute worst.

Cool Mask: Todd dons a black one for public appearances, both in a full version when wearing his hoodie, where only the bottom of his nose and lips are visible, and what looks like a more casual half version that only covers his nose and up. (Possibly just to throw on quick for the ever-present vlog coverage the meetups entail.)

Dark Is Not Evil: Yep. His very name is Todd in the Shadows, he does all his videos in the dark, and he spends most of them raging. Yet while he's about as snarky as it gets before getting into Yahtzee territory, he's also pretty clearly a good, decent guy.

Distressed Dude: When he tries to escape from the prospect of chick flicks, The Nostalgia Chick tapes him to a chair to a) hit on him and b) make him watch it with her. Later, she's apparently abducted him several times to try and make him love her.

Even Nerds Have Standards: Linkara's invitation to do a joint review with Todd led to him spending the entire review laughing at the idea of reviewing a comic book. Once he finally stopped laughing at the very end of the review, he happily accepted the invitation.

And again in the ET review, where several other contributors show up to mock his taste in music.

While vilifying Peter Cetera yet again in his Top 10 Worst Hit Songs of 1976, he makes it clear that he doesn't hate all similar soft rock acts. Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, and Richard Marx are fine by his book, but he stops just short of praising Michael Bolton along with the others (though still admits that he's better than Peter Cetera).

In public appearances (such as conventions and crossovers), he is on the light, but wears the Cool Mask mentioned above.

Toyed with in some videos shot by other producers. At times when he isn't wearing his mask (like on the Channel Awesome trip to Washington to meet with their elected officials), his face is edited out of the video by his friends.

When Film Brain first sees Todd in person, he immediately takes out his valuables and begs him not to knife him, due to the British association of hoodies with thuggish youth.

Later on, Critic being who he is, assumes that Todd is a "masked intruder" who wants to rape him.

Fanboy: Todd truly enjoys "Monster Mash", and more importantly, thinks that Bobby Pickett- Korean War vet, comedian, musician, actor, screenwriter- accomplished more in his life than Todd thinks he ever will. You can tell that he really does respect the man.

He used to call himself a Rihanna fanboy in his S&M review (or at least mentions that other people think he is). As of his Worst Hit Songs of 2012 review, he has stated that he's grown sick of her.

Fan Hater: invoked He really hates Team Breezy, if only for their refusal to admit Chris Brown has done anything wrong.

The Gimmick: His face is constantly obscured by shadows or masks. His main setup also has him filmed in profile, whether facing his piano or the TV.

He-Man Woman Hater: Todd references this trope by name in the prologue to the TGWTG-upload of the "Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 2009" review, saying that he was afraid he would come off as this for including three Beyoncé songs on the list.

The Nostalgia Chick: Hehe... yeah Todd... you can YOU can... DO... what so many wish they... could. #right? Todd In The Shadows: Eh, I'm only into redheads.

He Panned It, Now He Sucks: Inverted in-universe—He mentions the brief flak he got for admitting he liked Katy Perry, following it up with several fellow site members calling him out over it and one doing the same for stealing her hair.

Limited Wardrobe: Not only he regularly wears hoodies and mask, or costumes over his hoodies and mask. In his "Suit and Tie vs. Thrift Shop" review, Todd considers parodying the fashion style... only to show his closet with less than 7 types of grey hoodies (all the hoodies he has wear previously), including "hoodless sweater".

Also, his Kanye West impression in "Niggas in Paris" ("I am where art meets commercial. The sweet spot between the hood and Hollywood...").

Loser Protagonist: He's miserable, lonely and antisocial, his romantic life is one woman he descends into stalking, and another who's equally crazy and unwanted in her pursuit of him, he has a Small Name, Big Ego problem, but also sometimes resents his job reviewing stupid music, and is obnoxious to (and so, disliked by) his co-workers. Still, somewhere among all this he's still a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.

Mean Character, Nice Actor: Todd in the Shadows is highly messed up and treats his colleagues poorly. Todd Nathanson is a sweetie.

Lupa: I have had live bunnies air-dropped onto my house. My front yard looked like the Cliff's Notes for Watership Down!

Pretty much the "DL Incident". Todd's dropped a few details but it remains (mostly) shrouded in mystery.

In his review of "Girl On Fire", he says "I haven't had to deal with this many girls on fire since I accidentally set the"... We never hear the end of the sentence as he gets distracted by what's going on in the video.

The One That Got Away: In The Nostalgia Chick's review of Sleepless In Seattle Todd angrily rants at the screen at Bill Pullman's character for not fighting for Meg Ryan, "You idiot! Fight for her! What is wrong with you!? Why don't you say something!?" before breaking down in sobs, "Why didn't I say something?" Later in the review Todd is still clearly distraught "Why didn't I do something? Why did I just let her leave?" and The Nostalgia Chick asks if he is upset over Lupa, Todd replies, "Who?" It's not her.

Reality Subtext: In-Universe, The Nostalgia Chick obsessively stalks Todd and he's barely aware that she exists. In real life, Todd and Lindsay are not only dating but they're described by their co-reviewers as "a sickeningly adorable couple".

Any comment that seems to pin down Todd's ethnicity is accompanied by the caption "As far as you know", or other mitigations.

His "Finish the Rhyme" segment, though it hasn't seen use for a while.

"Not A Rhyme", which has been used recently (at times with a dedicated button on his keyboard, or a hashtag).

"Todd-stradamous" has shown up a few times - Todd seems unable to accurately predict the success of new acts. This usually comes up when a singer/band he thought would burn out pretty quickly either hits Number 1 or wins an award.

Most certainly NOT played for laughs, but Todd has now had to relocate to a new location for a 3rd time, because his roommate in the last location complained about him working, which he replied that he has to film while it's dark.

Screw Yourself: When asked on the forums what would happen if he traveled to a gender-swapped universe and met his female self, he stated that "Hot me-on-me action would be on the agenda, immediately."

Any time Todd claims he lives an exciting, happy or sociable life, there's a cut to his normal life, which ranges from mundane to pitiful.

When listing off what's cooler than Mike Posner, he lists "Constantly self-Googling", illustrated by a picture of himself at a computer. (He admitted in interviews that he does that.)

Reviewing "Firework"/"Born This Way", he says he no need for "pick-me-up songs" because he leads such a fantastic life. Cut to a clip of him sitting in front of his computer where he downs spirits, mopes for a while and tries to shoot himself in the head.

TowardsLupa. During his review of "OMG" he repeatedly tries horrible pickup lines from the song on her until she finally threatens to get a restraining order. When he goes to his computer during the "Like a G6" review, we see that his wallpaper is picture after picture of Lupa.

Lupa: Why haven't I blocked you yet?

His idea for a third anniversary crossover with her is to watch the Madonna erotic thriller Body of Evidence.

Several reviews have brief instances that show Todd in the light! He has his back to the camera and his hood is up, so we only see his feet.

Also, there's archive footage of him being given the Hannah Montana Guitar Video Game as a Christmas present. But there's a black face-silhouette with a white question mark inside covering his head. ("As you can see, the image has not been treated")

While he did walk around unmasked at MagFest, all of his on-camera appearances had his face masked.

In the blooper reel for The Last AirbenderCross Over, when he takes off the mask his face is covered by "Image not available".

Starting with the Sunday School Musical review and Suburban Knights, he appears fully-lit and shot from the front... with a black mask pulled over the top half of his face.

Jew Wario tried to look beneath his mask, only to for Todd to hold him at gunpoint.

And the only time he's unmasked and uncensored in Benzaie's vlog, it's too blurry.

In the review of Grease 2: as The Makeover Fairy poofs him over to Lindsay's house, she takes his mask off, but is terrified of what she sees and quickly puts it back on him. Of course, it was shot from behind him.

Even though Mr. Awesome Goes to Washington is supposed to be a serious piece on the TGWTG reviewers going to DC to complain about SOPA, they still point out Todd refuses to show his face and censor it throughout. (then... see below)

The Reveal: Accidental in the early, unfinished version of "5 O'Clock". Once Todd found out his face was being shown, he quickly took it off blip.tv and replaced with a re-edited version. Same with the "Mr. Awesome Goes to Washington" above - Todd spent a good part unmasked as you cannot go to senators in costume, but Lindsay missed the censoring for just one second and had to pull it back.

Where the Hell Is Springfield?/City with No Name: Kind of... in "Black and Yellow", he names his city as "Bumfuck Nowhere, VA".note Though the zip code listed for "BFE, VA" in a later episode is that of Lynchburg, a town he sometimes mentions in tweets.

TV Tropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. Privacy Policy